Jerry Adair
From SoSH
| Born: | Thursday Dec 17 1936 |
| Birthplace: | Sand Springs OK USA |
| Hometown: | |
| Height: | 6 ' 0 |
| Weight: | 175 |
| Bats: | Right |
| Throws: | Right |
| Drafted: | |
| College: | Oklahoma State University |
| High School: | |
| Other Teams: | Orioles, White Sox, Kansas City |
| Years with Boston: | 1967-1968 |
Contents |
Overall Career
Not known as a man with a hot bat, Adair spent 13 years in the majors with a career BA of a .254. His fielding was another story. In 1,165 games (810 games at second base), Adair had the remarkable fielding percentage of .981.
Adair began his major league career with the Baltimore Orioles when they signed him to a $40,000 bonus contract in 1958. Mid-way through the 1966 season, Adair was traded to the Chicago White Sox. This trade led to his just missing out on being a part of the Orioles' World Series win that fall. As luck and trades would have it, Adair was traded from the White Sox to the Red Sox in 1967 where he helped lead the Old Towne Team to the pennant and World Series.
Jerry Adair died of liver cancer in May of 1987 at the age of 50. His part in the "Impossible Dream" of 1967 was small, but a 12 year old from Whitman, Mass. remembers you Jerry. Rest in Peace.
Adair's Moments in the Sun
Holds the Major League record (along with Bobby Grich and Joe Morgan) for fewest errors in a season by a second baseman--(5) in 1964.
Set ML records with 89 consecutive games and 458 chances without an error from July 22, 1964 to May 6, 1965. This while with Baltimore. It is hereby duly noted that in 1964, Jerry Adair did not win the Golden Glove. The award went to Bobby Richardson who had 10 more errors and got to far fewer balls. By the way, Richardson played for the Yankees in 1964.
August 20, 1967, Fenway Park. In the heat of a pennant race the Red Sox are 1 1/2 games back. The Angels jump out to an 8-0 lead by the 4th inning. All hope is lost. But the miracle-season Sox tie the game in the 6th. Jerry Adair’s homer in the bottom of the 8th gives the Sox a 9-8 lead. The Sox have scored 9 unanswered runs. Jose Santiago holds off the Angels in the 9th. It was amazing. Jerry Adair’s game winning homer will never be forgotten by those who witnessed this game.
Trivia
Adair was one tough guy, what we now call a "dirt dog". In 1964, while playing in game 1 of a doubleheader against the Detroit Tigers, Adair was hit in the mouth by a bad throw. The incident resulted in Adair receiving 11 stitches. True to his form, Adair returned to play the second game.
Transactions
- June 13, 1966: Traded by the Baltimore Orioles with John Riddle (minors) to the Chicago White Sox for Eddie Fisher.
- June 2, 1967: Traded by the Chicago White Sox to the Boston Red Sox for Don McMahon and Bob Snow (minors).
- October 15, 1968: Drafted by the Kansas City Royals from the Boston Red Sox as the 51st pick in the 1968 Expansion Draft.
- May 12, 1970: Released by the Kansas City Royals.
External Links
- Baseball-Reference.com - Career Statistics and Analysis
